Executive Secretary-Treasurer Rich Rogers and Council Organizer Jonah Peppiatt met recently with organizer Kris Rondeau of AFSCME's HUCTW, a union of Harvard workers. In that meeting, Rondeau detailed her union's ongoing efforts to organize a similar union at Tufts University in Somerville, Medford, Grafton, and Downtown Boston, called the Tufts Employee Association (TEA).  Tufts' President, Lawrence Bacow, has written books in favor of the labor movement but has issued comments of late to the effect of 'unions are great, just not at Tufts.'  Bacow's administration has begun an anti-union campaign of worker intimidation and captive audience meetings, also perpetuating myths like 'the union will fire you if you don't pay your dues.'    In response, the TEA, which has taken an approach devoid of negative campaigning, is trying to garner the support of local, state, and national public officials, university faculty and students, and local labor leaders.

After meeting with Rondeau, Council ST Rich Rogers sent a letter to every legislator in the GBLC jurisdiction, requesting their support.  Additionally, Rogers has arranged meetings with several elected leaders to discuss the issue; Rondeau, Rogers and Council Organizer Jonah Peppiatt met with Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone on Thursday, June 25, and will meet with Congressman Mike Capuano on July 6.

The GBLC will also be helping the TEA with their organizing drive on the Medford/Somerville campus.  Peppiatt, who graduated from Tufts in 2008, will be working hard over the summer to garner both faculty and student support, and will meet regularly with workers as well.  'Having gone to Tufts, I want to make sure that the school treats its workers with a level of respect and fairness that I can be proud of,' Peppiatt said.